n.
gentleman; man (polite)
男士
gentleman; man (polite)
Polite, formal term for a gentleman or adult male (男 male + 士 scholar/person of rank); seen on signs like 男士洗手间 (men's restroom).
Common Usage & Traps
- 一位男士 — a gentleman (polite measure word for a man)
- 男士洗手间 — men's restroom
- 男士服装 — men's clothing
- 男士用品 — men's products
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一个男士一位男士Not broken Chinese, but 个 makes 男士 sound casual; 位 matches the polite, formal tone.
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男人洗手间男洗手间 / 男士洗手间Signs use 男 or 男士, not 男人; 男人 sounds like talking about a man, not labeling a facility.
Why do Chinese speakers say 男士 instead of 男生 for an adult gentleman?
男士 means an adult gentleman; 男生 sounds like a boy or male student.
男士 is the polite, adult word you see on signs and in service settings. 男生 is casual and usually points to a schoolboy, young guy, or boyfriend. If you call a 40-year-old customer 男生, it can sound childish or flirty. In the story, 女士和男士 pairs polite adult titles, while 男生和女生 pairs student/youth terms.
“女士和男士，
男生和女生，
先生和学生。” (Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Mr. and student.)
“女士和男士，
男生和女生，
先生和学生。” (Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Mr. and student.)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 男士 (adult man) | 男生 (boy or male student) |
| Tone | polite and formal | casual and youthful |
| Setting | signs, events, service | school, friends, dating |
Can you say 一个男士, or does it have to be 一位男士?
一个男士 is grammatical but casual; 一位男士 is the polite choice.
个 is the default measure word, so 一个男士 is not broken Chinese. But 男士 already carries a formal, polite flavor. In emails, hotels, events, or customer service, 一位男士 sounds much more polished. Save 一个男士 for casual storytelling or when you simply mean some guy.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel email | 一位男士 | 一个男士 |
| Event announcement | 一位男士 | 一个男士 |
| Casual chat | 一个男的 | 一个男士 |
Is 男士 just a fancier word for 男人?
男人 is neutral and can sound blunt; 男士 is polite and formal.
Both mean adult male, but they live in different rooms. 男人 is the everyday word, and it can sound rough or sexual depending on tone. 男士 is the polite term for public signs, clothing, skincare, and formal address. Calling a stranger 男人 to his face can feel oddly blunt; 男士 keeps distance and respect.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Public sign | 男士洗手间 | 男人洗手间 |
| Clothing | 男士服装 | 男人服装 |
| Everyday talk | 那个男人 | 那个男士 (too formal) |
Featured in Story Deep Dive
Follow how this word unfolds across the narrative arc of this graded story.
Before you read: this is a short rhyming poem. You will meet a doctor who asks about seeing and hearing. Try to spot words you already know!
- Scene #1
女士和 男士 ，男生和女生，先生和学生。
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